Game device



July 24, 1928.

1,678,432 A. B. HASLACHER GAME DEVICE Filed Sept. 5, 1927 Fig.1 p

my; 6 JJWMW 5? Patented July 24, 1928.

UNITED STATES ALFRED B. HASLACHER, 0F FARMINGTON, CALIFORNIA.

GAME DEVICE.

Application filed September 3, 1927. Serial No. 217,435.

My invention has for its object means whereby the progressive play in a football game or the like may be set up and by movements of elements of the device, the progress of the game be maintained visibly before the operator.

In its preferred form the device enables the operator following the play to have before him at all times the technical status of the game.

Provision is also made in the preferred form whereby the points in the progress of the game may be recorded thereon, so that when the game is over a finished record results My game device is particularly useful 1n following a remote football game or the like, reports in the progress of which are being received from a distance, as by telegraph or radio announcement.

Although I have shown and described below a preferred form particularly applicable to football. my invention may also be employed to follow and picturize other games, such as for example baseball.

By referring to the accompanying drawing my invention will be made clear.

In the drawing Figure 1 represents a card outfolrled and displaying in its central portion 0 a football field ruled off between the goals A and B respectively by the 10, 20, 30, 40, and yard lines, the 50 yard line be ing midway between the two goals. One end of the card normally provides space for display printing and cut or ruled portions which when removed and folded on their dotted lines are adapted to be employed as indicators. showing by their movement in the several slots the progress of the game.

The downs accomplished by either team F or J that may have the ball at any particular time are indicated by the numerals 1, 2. 3. and 4, over which may be moved the sliding pointer C, which in the diagram is shown set over the first down.

Figure 2 is a detail of the ball indicator when removed from the card and before folding. Figure 3 shows the indicator of Figure 2 after being folded and ready to insort in the slot K. The indicators M and C for the quarters and downs respectively, and the indicator carrying the flags E and EE are similarly removed, folded and inserted in their respective slots.

Figure 4 is a cross section on the line IV- IV of Figure 1, but with the upper portion N folded back and against the central portion 0 and forming a back to retain the various indicators in their respective slots. Throughout the figures similar numerals refer to identical parts.

The card is first outfolded and the several indicators which are partially cut through or punched, are now removed from the card body and folded along their dotted lines, and inserted in their respective slots, and the upper portion N may be folded back and against the central portion 0 with the tongue P entered in the slot Q, or it may be gummed or otherwise fixed, and thus form a backing retaining the several indicators positioned slidably in their respective slots. In place of folding back the portion N the lower portion B may be folded back against the central portion 0 and used in like manner as a backing for the sliding indicators.

The flag E is preferably colored or imprinted to correspond with the face J of the ball indicator H and the flag EE to correspond with the face F.

At S and S respectively are zone lines dividing the field in longitudinal zones T, U, V, W, respectively, to enable the position of the ball as reported in any zone, to be better visualized.

At D is a graduated slot extendin from goal to goal and adapted to carry t e flag indicator displa ing the flags E and EE, which are move on the field by the linemen, and the movement of these flags on my do vice is made to follow such movement.

At K is the slot within which the ball marker H is adapted to move and on each end an opening L in which it ma be turned around so that either side indicating the teams F and J respectively may be indicated by the exposed side of the football.

On the slide D are provided the flags E and EE which indicate the position of the ball on the first down and the distance to be gained for the next first down as provided in football rules. In other words the flag colored to indicate the team in possession of the ball is set opposite to the ball on any first down, and the other flag is then automatically positioned 10 yards towards the goal being played for, thereby showing the distance to be gained on the next first down, and these positions correspond to theflags used by linemen on the actual football field.

Counting in each direction towards the goal A and B are graduations along the slots D and K indicating yard distances from the respective goals, and the ball carrier H is used to mark the movements of the ball as received by telegraph or Wireless reports of the game, and is moved longitudinally to or from each goal in the slot K as the ball E reported to move on the distant football old.

The ball carrier or indicator H may be turned to present the opposite side, corresponding with the ball in the possession of the other team. That is. when one side F of the ball is exposed it indicates that the visiting team is in possession of the ball and when the carrier H is turned exposing the other side J it indicates that the ball is in possession of the home team. Indicators for the downs and quarters are shown at C and M respectively.

ihe ball may with advantage be indicated by colors on its two sides to correspond with the symbolic colors of the respective teams or other characterization may be employed.

The play starts from the 40 yard line leaving a. distance of yards to be played to the respective goal. When the first play is reported, for example the ball has just been kicked from the 40 yard line by the team F in the direction of the goal B and is caught on the 20 yard line by the team J. When this play is reported the ball carrier H is turned to expose the side J and is moved to the 20 yard line in the slot K, and the slide 1) is moved so that the flag E is set in line with the ball and the flag EE is then 10 yards in advance of the ball, corresponding with the 30 yard line and the pointer C is moved to indicate the first down. The setting, in Figure 1 corresponds with this play.

Side J now advances the ball, say 3 yards. The ball indicator is now moved up to graduation 23 in the slot K and the indicator C is moved to the 2nd down. The team J now makes 7 yards, bringing them up to the first 7 down, that is, to opposite the flag EE on the 30 yard line in the slot D. The flags are now moved 10 yards. that is to the 30 and 40 yard lines respectively, and the pointer C is moved back to the first down, because the said team has complied with the requirement of making 10 yards within 4 downs.

It now 4 plays or downs be made without reaching the flag EE on the new 40 yard setting. the team J loses the ball, which then goes to team F. The indicator His therefore now turned over by moving it to the end of the slot and turning it around in the opening L and it is then returned to its last position. the flags are moved 10 yards toward goal B and the flag EE will be in line with the ball, while the flag E now marks the distance to be gained durin the next 4 downs.

It will thus be seen t at the entire play and every detail thereof may be picturized upon the device of my invention enabling one following reports of the game as received by radio or otherwise to perfectly visualize the complete play.

I claim:

1. A game indicating device comprising a cardboard surface having a portion ruled to simulate a field on which a game is being played, a graduated longitudinal slot traversing said field, a second slot parallel with the first named slot and spaced therefrom, an indicator adapted to slide in said first named slot and a flag indicator adapted to slide in said second named slot, an extended portion of said surface on two opposite sides of said ruled portion and adapted to fold over and protect said ruled portion or to fold backwards and be secured to form a backing for said slidable indicators.

2. A game indicating device comprising a cardboard surface having a portion ruled to simulate a football field on which a game is being played, a graduated longitudinal slot traversing said field, a second slot parallel with the first named slot and spaced therefrom, an indicator adapted to slide in said first named slot and a flag indicator adapted to slide in said second named slot, said first named indicator having two differently characterized faces corresponding with the respective teams and said flag in dicator displaying two flags spaced apart a fixed distance, an extended portion of said surface on two opposite sides of said ruled portion and adapted to fold over and protcct said ruled portion or to fold backwards and be secured to form a backing for said slidable indicators.

3. A game indicating device as set forth in claim 1) wherein one of said extended portions has indicators imprinted thereon and partly cut through, and wherein said first named slot terminates in an enlarged opening into which said first named indicator may be moved and turned. around to re sent its other face and then returned into its respective slot.

4. A game indicating device as set forth in claim (2) wherein one of said extended portions has indicators imprinted thereon and partly cut through, and wherein said first named slot terminates in an enlarged opening into which said first named indicator may be moved and turned around to present its other face and then returned into its respective slot.

ALFRED B. HASLACHER. 

